Psoriatic arthritis is a condition associated with arthritis (inflammation of joints) where people will develop small red patches on the skin causing stiffness and swelling of joints. Often psoriasis develops first and after few days arthritis may develop but for some people initially they develop arthritis, a chronic inflammatory condition of joints and later they develop skin rashes on it.
This condition can affect any joints and even the fingertips causing severe pain. This disease will have remission period followed by flares. Treatment can be given for managing the symptoms but the disease cannot be cured completely.
Symptoms Of Psoriatic Arthritis :
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic disease where people may have flare-ups (symptoms worsen) and remission (symptoms disappear). Very often the joints on one side of your body get affected. It can affect any joints of the body causing inflammation and pain. This disease is characterized by swollen extremities. The fingers and toes become swollen causing severe pain. The affected person will have difficulty in lifting objects using fingers and may have problems with simple task of writing their names.
For some people there will be back pain (inflammation of joints of the spine) and foot pain affecting the ligaments of the heel and soles of the foot. Due to this the mobility of the person gets affected. The joints become rigid and stiff due to swelling giving intense pain while movement. In many cases, the stiffness is very severe in the mornings which may reduce in the afternoon. The symptoms can be mild to severe depending on the intensity of the disease. For some people it may take months together for showing initial symptoms but for others it can be quick and severe.
Causes :